How to Choose a Promotional Merchandise Supplier in the UK
Eight things to check before you order branded merchandise from any UK supplier, from proofs and delivery dates to reviews and price matching.
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View allChoose a supplier that shows you the price, your logo on the product and a guaranteed delivery date before you pay, says plainly what happens if an order is late or wrong, has independent reviews you can read, and belongs to a trade body with a code its members have to follow. Those few checks tell you more than any shortlist.
This guide is the checklist, one question at a time, with how we answer each point at the end.
Can you see the price without asking for a quote?
You should be able to see the price for your quantity on the product page, without starting a sales conversation. Prices fall per unit as quantities rise, so a supplier that shows the price at each quantity lets you set your budget before you speak to anyone.
Can you see your logo on the product before you order?
You should see a proof of your logo on the actual product before anything is printed, and be able to ask for changes without paying for them. A good proof shows where the logo sits, how big it is and what colours are used, along with the price and delivery date, so whoever signs off knows exactly what they're approving.
At Hotline, we provide a free Visual Proof™ within 20 minutes, so you can see exactly how your branded product will look. You can request as many amendments as you need, completely free of charge, until you're 100% happy with the design. Nothing goes to print until you've approved it.
Is the delivery date guaranteed, and when is it shown?
Look for a delivery date before you order, and check whether it's guaranteed or an estimate.
At Hotline, we show a live delivery date on every product page, on your Visual Proof™ and again in your basket before you order. Our Standard and Express delivery options are guaranteed, meaning we'll deliver on or before the date shown.
Once you place your order, that date is locked in (or once payment is received if paying by BACS). Our Free No-Rush option provides an estimated date instead. If you're ordering for an event or launch, use the delivery date filters on our category pages to find products that can arrive in time. We deliver 99.9% of orders on time, giving you confidence when planning around an important deadline.
How wide is the range?
A wide range means one supplier, one proof process and one invoice for a mixed order, such as pens, bags and clothing for the same event. A specialist can be the better choice for one product in depth, and our guide to choosing between a local print shop, an online printer or a merchandise specialist explains when.
What do reviews and a trade body tell you?
Independent reviews tell you how a supplier treats people when something goes wrong, so read the low scores as well as the high ones. Trade body membership tells you the supplier has agreed to a published standard.
The BPMA, the British Promotional Merchandise Association, is the UK trade body for the promotional merchandise industry, founded in 1965. Its members are required to follow its Code of Conduct, which covers honest product descriptions, compliance with safety law and standards across the supply chain, and you can check a supplier's membership in the BPMA's online directory. Our article on what BPMA membership means explains more.
What happens if you find it cheaper?
Ask whether the supplier matches prices, and read the terms, because a price match only applies to a genuinely identical product. Size, colour, branding method and turnaround all affect the price, so a cheaper quote for something slightly different isn't a like-for-like comparison.
Can you get help when you need it, and order again easily?
Check how you get help, and how quickly, before you need it. Then check whether you can see your past orders and reorder them, because the second order of the same thing should be easier than the first.
At Hotline, our Knowledge Centre and FAQs are packed with helpful advice, covering everything from choosing the right promotional products and preparing artwork to placing orders and understanding delivery times. They're a great place to find quick answers and expert guidance whenever you need it.
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How does Hotline answer each point?
Here's how we answer each question on the checklist, in terms you can check on our website.
| What to check | What good looks like | At Hotline |
|---|---|---|
| The price | Shown on the product page for your quantity | Prices for every quantity are shown online, with no quote needed |
| Your logo on the product | A free proof with unlimited changes before anything is printed | A free Visual Proof™ from our in-house designers, usually back in around 20 minutes during working hours, with unlimited changes and the price held for 14 days |
| The delivery date | Shown before you order and guaranteed | A guaranteed date on Standard and Express delivery, shown on the product page before you order and locked in when you order (paying by BACS moves it until payment clears) |
| If it's late or wrong | A stated remedy | Our Risk Free Guarantee: if your order is late or isn't what you approved, we replace or refund it (our guarantees) |
| Range | One supplier for a mixed order | Clothing, bags, drinkware, stationery, pens and more, ordered online in one basket |
| Reviews | Independent and easy to find | Reviews on Trustpilot, as well as our own |
| Trade body | Membership you can check | A member of the BPMA, listed in its Distributor Directory |
| Price | Matched on like-for-like terms | Our Price Match Promise for an identical product quoted by a UK-based competitor |
| Help and reordering | A clear support route and past orders kept | Our Support Centre for help, and your past orders saved in your account to buy again |
We've supplied promotional products to UK organisations since 1989. To start, browse our range and request a free Visual Proof™ on the product you have in mind, and you'll see the price, your logo and the delivery date before you decide.